How Hard Water Affects Your Family's Skin and Hair
While hard water is safe to drink, its mineral content creates quality-of-life issues. The minerals react with soap to form a residue that doesn't rinse away completely. This leads to common complaints like:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema.
- Dull, brittle hair that is difficult to manage.
- A feeling of film or residue on your skin after showering.
For families, preparing baby formula with hard water can be a concern, as the excess mineral content may not be ideal.
The Right Filtration System for Kirtland's Water
With a hardness of 10.2 GPG, your home falls into the 'Hard' water category where treatment is highly recommended. Your best options are:
- Salt-Free Water Conditioner: This is an excellent choice for preventing scale buildup in your pipes and appliances without the maintenance or salt discharge of a traditional softener.
- Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis (RO): For superior drinking and cooking water, an RO system removes the vast majority of dissolved solids, eliminating the need for bottled water. A family can spend $600-$900 per year on bottled water; an RO system pays for itself quickly.
A whole-house softener (around $1,500 installed) would save your household an estimated $108 per year on energy, detergents, and premature appliance replacement. This results in a payback period of approximately 13.9 years, making a targeted conditioner and drinking filter a more economical combination for many.